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Old 01-12-2018, 03:43 PM
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Default Berkeley DAC just got a lot better

I have had my new Berkeley Alpha DAC Reference Series 2 MQA for a few weeks now and it sounds great with my Aurender N10. Yesterday I received my new Berkeley Alpha USB that was back ordered. I connected the Berkeley Alpha USB between the N10 and the Berkeley DAC and OMG there was a significant improvement in sound quality for me. This was right out of the box with no break in. My wife and I could hear improvement within 10 seconds of play. We both looked at each other and went WOW. I thought I couldn't get my system to sound any better but this tiny box brought everything to a whole new level. I was up late last night playing tune after tune with an ever widening grin on my face. I would recommend anyone with a Berkeley DAC to add this USB also. It was definitely worth it for me.
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Old 01-12-2018, 04:07 PM
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Paul,
That's great to hear. Nothing compares to that new sound generated smile. You certainly have put together a first-class audio system. I'm sure the Alpha USB is an excellent match with your new Berkeley Reference DAC. I look forward to hearing more after you've had time some time with it. Enjoy!
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Old 01-13-2018, 12:15 AM
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I use the Alpha USB with my ARC DAC9 and it made a huge improvement there as well.

George
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Old 01-13-2018, 10:56 AM
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Attached is a picture of the Berkeley Alpha USB in comparison with my other audio components. It is very light and small but performs big time. Don't laugh at my placements yet as I am rearranging things. I put some Rollerblock Jrs that I had lying around under the Berkeley units but I will also try some Stillpoints to see what I prefer. I find isolation footers do make an improvement with my sound.
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Last edited by PMCH; 01-13-2018 at 11:24 AM.
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Old 01-13-2018, 11:37 AM
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Paul,
That's a beautiful rack of components. How's the sound now that it's been powered up for a few days?
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Old 01-13-2018, 02:31 PM
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Paul.......Are you using the Berkeley Alpha USB with the Aurender N10, or are you using it with a laptop computer?
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STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital cable, Sonos Connect, PurePower 2000, Stillpoints, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Wireworld, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario
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Old 01-13-2018, 03:45 PM
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Terry, my sound has just gotten better and better as everything breaks in. The Berkeley Alpha USB was a big improvement over just the Berkeley Dac.

Dan, I am using it with the N10. I don't use a laptop for audio. I am going from the Aurender N10 via it's USB output through iFi Gemini cables into an iFi Microi 3.0 then to a WW Platinum Starlight USB cable to the Berkeley Alpha USB then from the Berkeley Alpha USB via it's AES 110 output with Acoustic Zen Absolute 110 cable to the Berkeley Alpha DAC Reference Series 2 MQA via the AES 110 input. Then from the Berkeley DAC to my C1100. I do prefer using the C1100 over the Berkeley's included preamp.
When I spoke with the guys at Berkeley they told me I would get the best sound from my N10 going to the Berkeley Alpha USB first and then into the Berkeley DAC and they were right. They also told me they have MQA on their N10 testing it for their DAC and it should be available soon for our N10's.
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Old 02-05-2019, 08:11 PM
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"Berkeley Audio Design Announces Alpha DAC Reference Series 3"

"Alpha DAC Reference Series 3 also includes MQA Rendering of unequaled audio quality to 384kHz and above"



http://www.theabsolutesound.com/arti...ence-series-3/

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Old 02-06-2019, 10:58 AM
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It will be interesting to find out what the cost to upgrade will be.
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Old 02-06-2019, 04:09 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PMCH View Post
Terry, my sound has just gotten better and better as everything breaks in. The Berkeley Alpha USB was a big improvement over just the Berkeley Dac.

Dan, I am using it with the N10. I don't use a laptop for audio. I am going from the Aurender N10 via it's USB output through iFi Gemini cables into an iFi Microi 3.0 then to a WW Platinum Starlight USB cable to the Berkeley Alpha USB then from the Berkeley Alpha USB via it's AES 110 output with Acoustic Zen Absolute 110 cable to the Berkeley Alpha DAC Reference Series 2 MQA via the AES 110 input. Then from the Berkeley DAC to my C1100. I do prefer using the C1100 over the Berkeley's included preamp.
When I spoke with the guys at Berkeley they told me I would get the best sound from my N10 going to the Berkeley Alpha USB first and then into the Berkeley DAC and they were right. They also told me they have MQA on their N10 testing it for their DAC and it should be available soon for our N10's.
The best outputs of the Aurender N10 are the AES/SPDIF outputs, that way you are using the better word clock in the Aurender, it might be interesting to compare
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